Hundreds of protesters took to the streets of Tripoli for a second consecutive day on Saturday, demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah following a week of deadly clashes in the Libyan capital. Around 500 demonstrators gathered in the city centre, building on Friday’s mass protest that saw thousands march from Martyrs’ Square to the prime minister’s office.
Tensions escalated further when a police officer was shot dead on Friday by unidentified gunmen while guarding the premier’s office. The incident has added to the growing instability in a country already split between Dbeibah’s UN-recognised government in Tripoli and a rival administration in the east, dominated by military strongman Khalifa Haftar and his family.
Libya has remained mired in political turmoil and division since the 2011 NATO-backed uprising that led to the ousting and death of long-time ruler Muammar Gaddafi. The latest protests follow a series of violent clashes between rival armed groups earlier in the week that killed at least eight people, according to the United Nations.
Despite signs of normalcy returning—such as reopened shops, resumed flights, and people returning to work—the political situation remains highly volatile. Reports from local media indicate that six ministers and deputy ministers in Dbeibah’s cabinet have resigned, though only two departures have been officially confirmed.
Municipal councils across western Tripoli have publicly backed the protest movement, while Khaled al-Mishri, head of the High Council of State, announced the beginning of talks with the eastern-based parliament to select a “national figure” to lead a new government.
In his first public appearance since the unrest began, Dbeibah met tribal leaders in Tripoli on Saturday, urging them to help prevent a relapse into chaos and lawlessness. He reiterated his government’s commitment to curbing the influence of militias and reinforcing state authority. The prime minister also met with representatives from Misrata, his hometown, who reportedly reaffirmed their support for his leadership.
As uncertainty looms, Turkey, one of Dbeibah’s key international allies, evacuated 82 of its nationals from Libya late Friday, underscoring growing international concern over the country’s fragile security landscape.